Direction signal switch



June 6, 1950 R. o. HOLZWORTH DIRECTION SIGNAL SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1946 INVENTOR. Amiard 0 fi o/zn/orlfi,

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June 1950 R. o. HOLZWORTH 2,510,175

DIRECTION SIGNAL SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 28, 1946 Patented June 6, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE DIRECTION SIGNAL SWITCEI Richard O. Holzworth, Vinton, Iowa Application June 28, 1946, serial No. (Cl. 200-59) 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to improvements in signalling apparatus and more particularly to direction and caution indicating signals.

One of the main objects thereof is to provide a simple, efficient and inexpensive direction and caution signalling devices for particular use upon a vehicle.

Another object thereof is to provide an electrically operated indicating signal device so shaped, constructed and arranged on an automobile or other vehicle that a minimum amount of attention and operation is exacted from the car operator in effecting selectively the desired signalling indications.

Another object thereof is to provide a novel type of signalling apparatus for automobiles and the like pursuant to which the car operator needs only to slide his hand already engaged with the steering wheel of the machine and shift the position of a neutrally placed hand lever where it predeterminatedly activates a circuit maker for the purpose of closing the electrical circuit to the required signalling lamp.

A still further object thereof is to provide means for automatically presetting the circuit closing and opening hand operated lever for the signalling apparatus in such a manner that after it has been moved to convey the intended indication the steering wheel may, when it is itself moved back to normal position, effect the return movement of the hand lever to initiall neutral circuit opening position.

With the above and other objects in view my invention consists in the combination, arrangement and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the respective views,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the circuit maker and breaker according to the invention, parts being broken away and shown in horizontal section;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken substantially on the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on a slightly enlarged scale and taken substantially on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the operation of the device and taken substantially on the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference characters have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, and referring at first to Figure 1, I designates the steering column of an automobile which is adapted to have clamped thereto a split ring 29 comprising a clamp. The segments of the ring 29 are pivotally connected by any suitable pintle 3| at one side of the steering column. The opposite ends of the segments are extended to provide ears 3-2 and 33 adapted to receive any suitable clamping means such as the bolt H. One'of the segments of the clamp 29 includes a laterallydirected arm l2 the outer end of which has fixedly secured thereto a switch housing 31. The housing 3'! includes a floor It, a top l4, sidewalls l5 and a substantially semi-circular rear wall Hi. The top wall I4 is formed with an arcuate slot ll therein which is concentric to the axis of the steering column Iii. Upper portions of the side walls [5 are cut away, as at ll, to provide continuations'of the slots H. The rear wall 16 intermediate the top and bottom walls Hi and I3 is formed with a slot 13 thereinwhic h extends in parallel relation to the top l4 and floor iii. 'The slot? includes a central notch 45 and oppositelydirected lateral portions 46 and ll. A switch arm {33 extends radially of the rear wall it and is slidable in the'slot' l8. Likewise, the'notch 45 of the slot provides a recess seating the arm 53 in a neutral position. The switcharm 43 ispivoted between the top H and floorl3 by means of a vertical pivot pin 59 fixedto the top l4 and the f oor 13 in any wellknown manner.

Inwardly of the pivot 59 the switch arm 43 is provided with a pair of switch-providing contact fingers 5i and 52 comprising a fork; Such fingers 5i and 52 extend through a' slot 55c formed in the adjacent wall of a contact mounting housing 54 formed of insulating material. The housing 551 has 'rnounted therein an arcuate series of contacts which are equally spaced from each other and comprisea contact 55, a contact 56, and a contact 5?. The contact 55 is connected by any suitable lead 15 and cable to any suitable source of electric current, not shown. Likewise, the contacts {i5 and El are connected respectively by any suitable leads 1B and 8| and the cable 80 to left and right hand turn-designating signals, not shown. As is indicated in broken lines, Figure 1, when the switch arm {53 is seated in the notch 45 of the slot It, the "contact fingers 5| and 52 thereof are extended between the contacts 55 and 56 and the contact 55 and 51 respectively. 7

However, when the operator of the vehicle desires to designate a 1eft turn, the switch arm 43 is lifted out of the notch 45 by flexing upwarm that portion thereof rearwardly of said pivot 59. Thereafter, the arm "43 is moved in a counterclockwise directionto the full line position, Figure 1. In this position the contact finger 5i engages the contact 55 while the contact finger52 engages the contact 55 whereby to bridge suchcontacts and closea circuit to a signal lamp designating a left turn.

A atche rsha sd am 6 is fi d. to he a 4. transversely thereof and is so located on such arm that when the arm as is seated in the notch 45 the ramp 5'! is substantially clear of the slot I! in the top M of the housing. However, when the switch arm 4.3 is moved to either limit of the slot [8 to designate a left or rightturn, the ramp 6| is disposed substantially transversely of the slot I! and in subjacent relation thereto as is clearly indicated in full lines, Figures 1, 2 and 4. As indicated in Figure 4, the ramp 6! includes an upwardly-inclined front surface I9 and an overhanging rear surface whereby the ramp 6| is substantially ratchet-shaped for a purpose to be described later. Likewise, the ends of the slots l8 are so located relative to the ends of the slots ll that the end edges or 20 of the ramp Bl extends across an end of the slot II when the ramp is in a turn-designating position.

Referring now to Figure 4, in connection with Figure 1, it is noted that a spoke 2| of the steering wheel has slidably fixed in relation thereto a pin 11. The lower end of the pin 11 rotatably mounts a roller 75. A coil spring 16 is concentricallydisposed about the pin 11 and biases the same end and said roller 75 for downward movement relative to the spoke 2!. A head 22 on the upper end of the pin 1! limits such downward movement. The pin 11 is so disposed on the spoke 2| that the normal path of the roller 75 coincides with the slot I1 and such roller is received in such slot as the steering wheel is rotated in the process of making a turn or straightening out the steering gear after the completion of the turn. Entry to slot [1 is permitted by slot extension l1. As is readily apparent from Figure 1, with the switch arm 43 in the neutral position the ramp BI is substantially free of the slot l1 and is not in the path of the roller 15 whereby no switching operation takes place as the steering wheel is rotated. However, when the switch arm 43 together with the ramp 6| is moved to a turn-designating position such as that shown in full lines in Figure 1 or in Figure 2, the ramp 6| presents its upwardly-inclinedface l9 to the roller 75 as the steering wheel is turned in the direction to make the designated turn. Thus the roller 75 rides easily over the ramp 6| as long as the steering wheel is rotated in a turn-generating direction. However, as soon as the turn is completed and a return rotation is applied to the steering wheel to straighten out the steering gear, the end edge 29 or 20' of the ramp BI is presented to the roller 15 and engages the same. Thus, the ramp BI and switch arm 43 is carried with the roller 75 until the switch arm reaches the neutral position at which point it drops down into the notch 45 whereby the ramp is lowered slightly and the beveled end surfaces 6 lo or 61d thereof permit the roller '15 to ride clear of the ramp. Thus, the switch is automatically moved to a neutral or open position as soon as return rotation of the wheel is commenced.

Further return rotation of the wheel will find. the ramp 6| in the clear position and no signal will be given.

Referring now to Figure 3, means are provided for facilitating the action of the switch arm 43 in all directions. This is accomplished by a means now to be described for spring-loading the same both to the turn-designating positions and to the neutral position. Such means comprises a pin 49 swiveled in the top [4 of the casing 31 which has pivoted thereto a tubular guide I110. The tubular guide I00 slidably receives a stem 41a which in turn is pivoted to the switch arm 43 in any suitable manner. Interposed between the upper end of the stem 47a and the closed upper end of guide I00 is a coil spring 50 which loads the stem 47a and the switch arm 43 for movement away from the guide I0 0. Thus, when the switch arm 43 is raised out of the notch 45 such movement is against the action of spring 50.

4 Moreover, as soon as motion in a lateral direction is applied to the switch arm 43 in either of the slot portions 46 or 41, the expansive action of 'the spring 59 causes the switch arm 43 to be snapped to the limit of the slot in that direction. Thus, the operator of the arm has only to raise the switch arm out of the slot or notch 45 and start it in the direction of one of the slot portions 46 or 47 and the spring 50 wil1 do the rest. Likewise, when the ramp 6!] is engaged by the roller 75 as is indicated in Figure 4, the switch arm is moved against the action of the spring 50 until the switch arm is above the notch 45 at which time the spring 50 will snap the switch arm downwardly into the notch 45. Thus, there is no danger of the roller 15 carrying the parts to the opposite end of the slot I8.

Thus, while I have shown and described what is now thought to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, I do not 1imit myself to the precise structure shown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

In a switch for an automobile directional signal including a stationary switch housing fixed to the steering column in subjacent relation to the steering wheel, and wherein depending means on the steering wheel is effective to de-activate a manually-actuated switch in said housing upon return rotation of said wheel after a turn, the improvement comprising said housing including an upper surface formed with an arcuate slot therein concentric to said steering column, said slot being in the path of said depending means and receiving the same therein as said steering wheel is rotated in both directions, said switch including a switch arm pivoted in said housing and including a poirtion underlying said slot and extending radially thereof, a substantially ratchet-shaped ramp fixed atop said arm portion and extending transversely thereof, said ramp including an upwardly-inclined front surface and substantially vertically disposed end surfaces, said arm being manually pivoted in opposite directions from a central neutral position to oppositely-disposed turn-designating positions wherein said end surfaces of said ramp are selectively disposed substantially transversely across said slot adjacent opposite ends thereof so as to present said inclined surface to said depending means during turn-providing rotation of said wheel and to present a vertical end surface thereof to said depending means during return rotation of said wheel, whereby to be engaged by said depending means and returnedto said neutral position upon return rotation of said steering wheel.

RICHARD O. HOLZWORTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,465,596 Collins et a1 Aug. 21, 1923 1,615,949 Lincicome Feb. 1, 1927 1,636,024 Vose July 19, 1927 1,690,370 Hoeller Nov. 6, 1928 1,713,305 Stonehill May 14, 1929 1,884,117 Mortssen Oct. 25, 1932 1,996,417 Haines Apr. 2, 1935 2,120,288 McCready June 14, 1938 

